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26/07/10
HINI volunteer off to Peru
Local Hostelling International Northern Ireland (HINI) volunteer Dino Melia has been selected to take part in a nationwide volunteering programme called Platform2.
As part of the programme he will be spending 10 weeks in a shanty town in Peru helping local people to build homes and sanitation blocks, running football training camps, teaching English and teaching children all about Northern Ireland and the UK.
The Platform2 programme supports young people that might not otherwise get such an opportunity and the aim is to create a greater awareness of the world and of the different people and different cultures living in it.
Before this experience, Dino took part in volunteering locally, working as a volunteer warden and tour guide with Hostelling International Northern Ireland.
Hostelling International Northern Ireland offers a range of volunteer activities aimed at people of all ages and there are currently two European Volunteers working at HINI. These volunteers will live in Northern Ireland for a year and work across all of the six HINI youth hostel properties.
Dino had this to say about the project: “I’ve been looking for a job now for quite a while and since the credit crunch it has been quite hard. I decided to volunteer because it’s a great opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. It helped get me going again and this opportunity with Platform2 is fantastic. I’ve never been so far from home and I’m really excited to be a part of the programme.”
“I‘ve had lots of support since becoming a volunteer at HINI, the organisation helped me find this placement and I have met people from all over the world that come the Northern Ireland to visit.”
Hostelling International Northern Ireland operates six hostels in Whitepark Bay, Belfast, Armagh, Enniskillen, Newcastle and Bushmills. Each youth hostel works with local and international volunteers and as part of the volunteer programme, travel expenses and accommodation are provided for. To find out more about volunteering at HINI please contact the project coordinator on 028 90 324733 or email jani@hini.org.uk.